Methods and systems for improved detection of minispare tires

• US 8,170,755 B2
• Filed: 09/16/2008
• Issued: 05/01/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH, Robert Bosch LLC (Robert Bosch GmbH)
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Patil, Nachiket D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): FEI, JORDAN S
• Application Number:
  US12/211,258
• Publication Number:
  US 20100070142A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,323 Days
• Field of Search: 701/37, 701/48, 701/70, 303/146, 303/151, 303/113.1, 303/113.5
• US Class Current: 701/48
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2240/08 Spare wheel detection; Adjusting brake control in case of spare wheel use
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/172 Determining control parameters used in the regulation, e.g. by calculations involving measured or detected parameters B60T8/17551 takes precedence

Abstract

A method of detecting a minispare tire in a vehicle having a vehicle control system. The method includes detecting a rotational velocity of each of a plurality of wheels of the vehicle; determining whether a minispare tire is mounted on the vehicle based on the rotational velocities detected at each of the plurality of wheels; adjusting the vehicle control system if a minispare tire is mounted on the vehicle; sensing a hydraulic pressure of a braking system of the vehicle; and suspending determination of whether a minispare tire is mounted on the vehicle if the hydraulic pressure exceeds a predetermined critical pressure level.

Claims

1. A method of detecting a minispare tire in a vehicle having a vehicle control system, the method comprising:

detecting a rotational velocity of each of a plurality of wheels of the vehicle;

determining whether a minispare tire is mounted on the vehicle based on the rotational velocities detected at each of the plurality of wheels;

adjusting the vehicle control system if a minispare tire is mounted on the vehicle;

sensing a hydraulic pressure of a braking system of the vehicle during braking while the vehicle is in motion; and

suspending determination of whether a minispare tire is mounted on the vehicle if the hydraulic pressure exceeds a predetermined critical pressure level during said braking.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the vehicle control system is an antilock braking system, a fraction control system, or an electronic stability control system.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein sensing the hydraulic pressure of the braking system occurs at a master cylinder of the braking system.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein sensing the hydraulic pressure of the braking system occurs at one or more of the plurality of wheels.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined critical pressure level is at least 10 bar.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined critical pressure level is at least 25 bar.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined critical pressure level is at least 50 bar.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined critical pressure level is at least 70 bar.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined critical pressure level is at least 100 bar.

10. A system for suspending detection of a minispare tire in a vehicle, the system comprising:

a plurality of wheel speed sensors, wherein each wheel speed sensor is attached to a wheel of the vehicle such that the wheel speed sensor measures a rotational velocity value for the wheel;

a braking system including;

a master cylinder;

a brake pedal attached to the master cylinder; and

a hydraulic pressure sensor to measure a hydraulic pressure value within the braking system; and

a vehicle control system comprising a control unit in operative communication with the braking system and wheel speed sensors, wherein the control unit has a logic unit and a storage unit, the storage unit having a critical pressure level stored therein and the logic unit configured to;

receive the rotational velocity values from the wheel speed sensors;

analyze the relative rotational velocities of the wheels to determine whether a minispare tire is mounted on a wheel;

receive the hydraulic pressure value from the hydraulic pressure sensor;

compare the hydraulic pressure value to the critical pressure level stored in the storage unit;

if the hydraulic pressure level is less than or equal to the critical pressure level, adjust the vehicle control system for the presence of a minispare tire; and

if, during braking while the vehicle is in motion, the hydraulic pressure is greater than the critical pressure level, suspend determination of whether a minispare tire is mounted on the vehicle.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the vehicle control system is an antilock braking system, a fraction control system, or an electronic stability control system.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the hydraulic pressure of the braking system is measured at the master cylinder of the braking system.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein sensing the hydraulic pressure of the braking system occurs at a wheel.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the critical pressure level is at least 25 bar.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the critical pressure level is at least 50 bar.

16. A method of operating a vehicle control system, the method comprising:

detecting a rotational velocity of each of a plurality of wheels of a vehicle;

sensing a hydraulic pressure in a braking system of the vehicle;

if the hydraulic pressure in the braking system is at or below a predetermined critical pressure, determining whether a minispare tire is mounted on the vehicle based on the rotational velocities of the wheels;

adjusting the vehicle control system if it has been determined that a minispare tire is mounted on the vehicle; and

if, during braking while the vehicle is in motion, the hydraulic pressure is greater than the predetermined critical pressure, suspending determination of whether a minispare tire is mounted on the vehicle.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the vehicle control system is an antilock braking system, a fraction control system, or an electronic stability control system.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein sensing the hydraulic pressure of the braking system occurs at a master cylinder of the braking system.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein sensing the hydraulic pressure of the braking system occurs at one or more of the plurality of wheels.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the predetermined critical pressure level is at least 50 bar.